Speed-indicator.



192153-64 L. E. SHAW.

` SPEED INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2a, 1907.

1,025,164. Patented May 7,1912. f

4 SHBETS-SHEBT 1.

www

W/ TNESSES Y k /A/ Vif/V7' 0/1 "V1 TTORVEYS L.` E. SHAW.

SPEED INDICATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 28.1907.

1,025,164. f PanenedMay?, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

y L. E. SHAW.

SPEED INDICATOR. f APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2.8, 1907.

1,025,164; Patented may 7, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

L. E. SHAW.

SPEED INDICATOR.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE ze, 1907.

Patented May 7, 1912.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

LOUIS E. SHAW, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPEED-INDICATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May v, 191e.

Application led June 28, 1907. Serial No. 381,191.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, Louis E. SHAW, a citizenof the United States, and resident oi the borough of" BronX, county ofWestchester, city and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Speed-Indicators, of which the `following is aspecification, accompanied by drawings. l v

This invention `relates to speed indicators and one of the objects ofthe invention is to show the average speed at which an automobile orother movingvehicle is traveling.

The usual indicators are rovided with a needle which uctuates, tlierebyshowing the speedr at any 'ven instant of time, but in order todetermine the speed at which the automobilephas been traveling for agiven time, as for instance, half. a minute, it is necessary to averageup in the drivers head the different variable speed indications.

In accordance with this invention the in- 'strument -automaticallyindicates the average speed for a given time, as for instance a halfminute. At the end of half a minute the speed indication is held at agiven average reading, the average speed indication for the next half aminute is read on another portion of the instrument and so on. Thus thedriver is enabled to tell instantly the average speed at which he hasbeen moving for each thirty seconds of time, and the annoyance andinconvenience of mentally averaging the number of different speedindications is entirely avoided.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter.l appear and to theseends the invention consists Vof a speed indicator for carrying out theabove objects embodying the features of construction, combinations ofelements and arrangement of parts having the general mode of operationsubstantially as hereinafter fully described and 'claimed in this-specification and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure l is a top plan view of the speed indicator partly in sectionwith the cover removed; Fig. 2 is a sectional si`de elevation on the lmeA B of Fig. l; Fig. 3 is a detail plan View partly in section and partlybroken away of a portion of the instrument shown in Fig. 1 with thepart-s in different position; Fig. 4 is a detail view of the parts`shown in Fig. 2 in still another position; Fig. 5 is a perspective viewof the speed indicator showing the face of the clock and the odometerscale. Fig. 6 is a sectional detail and Fig. 7 a bottom view of themounting of the spring e and gear L.

Referring tothe drawings, A represents a suitable casing for theinstrument adapt-F ed to be secured to any suitable part of theautomobile or other moving vehicle. Within the casing is arranged themechanism of the instrument, and B is the main shaft adapted to begeared or connected in any suitable manner to one of the forward wheelsof an automobile, or to the driving shaft or any other rotating partfrom which the average speed of the vehicle is to be taken. The shaft Bshould be geared by a suitable form of reduction gearing or otherconnections to`bring the necessary movement of the parts of theinstrument within the desired limits since the wheel of an automobile`or shaft of the engine of a motor boat, for instance, rotates usuallytoo rapidly for direct connection. The top and bottom of the casing Aare suitably secured together in any desired manner whereby themechanism of the instrument may be assembled and inspected. An apertureC is provided for the casing covered by a sheet of glass or othertransparent material D to enable the scales E and F, and pointers G andH to be viewed in accordance with the operation of the instrument.

In accordance with this invention the shaft B is operatively connectedto move one or the other of the scales E and F through a distanceproportional to the distance traveled by the machine in a given periodof time, in this instance during one half a minute. First the scale Efor instance is moved a distance proportional to the travel of themachine for a half minute,

and then the movement of the scale E is discontinued leaving the readingfor the average speed during a half minute indicated at the opening C,while the other scale F is automatically 'connected to be moved througha distance proportional to the travel of the machine for another halfminute, at the end of which time it is automatically stopped, while thefirst scale Fl is returned to zero and so on. A shield l isautomatically thrown in front of one scale or the other so that thescale which is moving is hidden from view and the reading is indicatedby the stationary scale.

On the shaft J suitably supported between the top and bottom of thecasing A icaI are loosely mounted scales E and F,` and each scale asshown is divided into 120 divisions, each division representing a speedof one half mile per hour. Each scale is also provided with a tootheddisk K and L, there being 119 teeth, one of said teeth O being of thewidth of two teeth and projecting beyond the other teeth, forming a stopto stop the scale at zero position. EachV of the smaller teeth Pcorresponds to a division on the corresponding scale.

Suitable clock mechanism 50 is connected to the driving shaft Q, torotate said shaft one revolution per minute. As shown in Fig. 1, ontheend of shaft Q is a bevel gea-r 51 meshing with a bevel gear 52connected to be driven by the clock mechanism 50 in any suitable manner.In this insta-nce a shaft- 53 may be suitably connected to the clockmechanism 50, and said shaft is connected with the shaft 54, Fig. 2, ofgear 52, by a universal joint 55. The shafts 53 and 54 are shown brokenaway in Fig. 2, so as not to obscure the remaining parts on shaft Q, andthe end of shaft Q 1s shown in 'section for the same reason. Said shaftQ carries a disk R provided with slots S and T. On the stud U carried bythe bottom of the casing A is provided a sleeve V having mounted thereona toothed disk W, two cams X and Y and a pinion Z. The toothed disk lVis prorided with four teeth a, b, c and d, which coperate with theslotted disk R. As shown, two of the teeth a and c are bent to one sideof the disk W', while the other two teeth b and i project on the'otherside of the disk, in this Ainstance the teeth a and c projectingdownwardly and b and d projecting upwardly. The sleeve- V on which thedisk WY is mounted is placed under constant stress tending to 'rotateit, in this instance a suitable coiled spring e being connected tooperate the sleeve V through ge'alring connected to the pinion Z. Asshown, the spring e is secured to the stud f 'on the casing and to theshaft g of the `gear h. I have not shown any details in Figs. 1 and 2 ofthe spring mounting in respect to they wheel h because any approvedarrangement for mounting and winding up the spring may be'used, but inFigs. 6 and 7 details of the rewinding 'mechanism are illustrated inlarger scale showing one example thereof.l

the movable spring pressed coacting crown' ratchet g actuated by 'thespring 71 as shown and splined or movably pinned to turn with the shaftas by pin g and slot shown. lThe lower end of the shaft g protrudesthrough the casing in the recess shown and carries a square or hexagonalminute will permit an intermittent rotation of the disk W and sleeve V.

In the beginning of the operation of the instrument the tooth a isbearing against the disk R below one of the slots as shown in Fig. 2,and the disk R is rotatin in the direction of the arrow R. ,The'toot awill continue to bear against the disk R for a proximatel. 29 seconds atwhich point t e other slot 1n the disk R will fall opposite the toot-ha, permitting the disk WV to rotate through one quarter of a revolut-ionat which point the next tooth b will be brou ht to a, stop against thedisk R above the s ot.

lSince said tooth lb is staggered or projects on the opposite side ofthe disk W of tooth a, the continued rotation of the disk R willimmediately release the tooth I) in an interval of time the equivalentof about one second, at which time the slot in the disk R will permitthe tooth b to pass, and the disk W will be rotated through anotherquarter of a, revolution until the tooth c abuts against the disk R at apoint just below the slot, and said tooth c will be held forapproximately 29 seconds more, that is .until the 59th second isreached, at which point another slot in the disk R will fall o positethe tooth and permit the rotation of t ie disk 1V through 'thethirdquarter of a revolution until the tooth d abuts against the disk at apoint just above the slot where it will remain for an interval of timeapproximating one second until released by the continued movement of thedisk R permitting the tooth d to ass through' the slot, thus rotatingthe disk W through the fourth Vquarter of' a revolution until brought toa stop bythe tooth a bearin Aagainst lthe Idisk R just below the slot. fhis cycle of lo era.- tions has Atherefore permitted the dis and-thisrotation has been divided vinto two periods of exactly thirty secondseach. The instrument is so devised that during one period of thirtyseconds one of the moving W j and 'sleevev V wit-hthe parts connectedltherewith to rotate intermittently for'one minute scales will beactuated and then brought t-o i rest, and the other scale will beactuated for the next thirty seconds and then brought to rest, and so onback and forward.

Any suitable operative connections may be provided between the mainshaft B 4and the tooth disks K and L for actuating said i disks andthereby moving the scales. In

I* portion B.

this instance suitable pawls andconnections therefor are provided forcoperating with the teeth on the disks K and L. This ratchet and pawlmechanism is controlled by the intermittent operation of the sleeve Vand parts connected therewith. The cams X and Y are so shaped and timedthat the ratchet and pawl mechanism operates for thirty seconds on onetoo-th disk K and is then thrown out of operation, While the otherratchet and pawl mechanism operates the other tooth disk L for-thirtyseconds.

ln the meantime the first tooth disk has been permitted to resume zeroposition.

The shaft B is provided With an eccentric Cooperating with the toothdisks K and L are operating bars o andl 79 connected to be actuated bythe eccentric portion of the shaft B, as shown, the operating bars oandp being pivoted on said eccentric portion B of the shaft B in anysuitable manner. The shaft B, as shown, rotates in the'direction ot thearrow B2, Fig. 1, so that the bars o and p are actuated forward at everyrevolution. On the operat- .ing bars are pivoted the operating pawls gand fr spring pressed by means of the springs pawls g and 1 are normallypressed against the stops u, and the operating bars 0 and p s.' Theoperating bars 0 and p are spring pressed by means of the springs t. The

and the pawls are normally under pressure l tending to force the paWlsinto engagement ,35.

cams X and Y operate to raise one operat- `ing bar or the other at atime to raise one pavvl or the other out of Y engagement with itscooperating tooth disk.

with the teeth on'the disks K and L. The

Pivoted on the stud 2 are the bell crank levers 3 and 4C, provided withpins 5 at one end engaging the slots 6 in the outer ends of theoperating bars 0 and p. The other ends of the bell crank levers 3 and 4are rovidedfwith rollers 7 which form fol ovvers for the cams `X and Y,so that as the cams Xand Y are rotated counterclockwise,

as Fig. 1 is viewed, the rollers 7 and the corresponding ends of thebell crank levers 3 and 4.- are depressed fora portion of the revolutionof the cams, thereby intermiti tentlyraising and lowering the outer'slot ted ends of the'opera-ting bars 0 and fp, and- 5X5 thus` raisingand lowering the operating with the tooth disks K and-L. The stud 2 isfpawls g and o" out of and into engagementprovided with stop pawls 8spring pressed by the springs 9, carried by the bell crank levers. Eachbell cra-nk lever is also provided With a stop 10 adapted to coperatewith the shoulder 11 on the paWlS. When'the roller 7 on the inner end ofthe bell crank lever vis depressed substantially to the limit of itsmovement, the stop 10 Will be brought into engagement with the shoulder11,thereby forcing the stop pawl 8 out of engagement with the smallerteeth on the disk, but

notraising said stop paWl sufficiently tar raised, the tension of thespring fw connected to the casing at 12 and to the hub of the disk at13, will cause the reverse'rotation of the tooth disk and scaleconnected theretduntil .the large tooth O abuts against the stop pawl 8,thus bringing said scale to rest with i the zero thereon opposite thecorresponding?4 pointer at .the opening in the casing. The stop paWl 8therefore controls the forwardA movement of its disk and also acts as astop to limit the backward movement and main.lv

tain the scale at zero reading.

The shield I is adapted to be moved back and fort-h across the scales Eand F. As shown, the shield is pivoted at each side of the casing on thestuds 15, and one pivoted end is provided with an upwardly extending arm16 to which is pivoted one end of the rod 17, the other end of which ispivoted at 18 to one end of the bell crank lever 19, said bell cranklever being in turn pivoted to the stud 2O on' the casing. The other endof the bell 4crank lever 19 is pivoted at 21 to the link 22, the otherend of Which is pivoted at 23 4to the crank arm 24 carried on the sleeveV. The crank arm 24 is so positioned on the sleeve V With relation tothe cams X and Y that the bell crank lever 19 is rocked to throw theshield over the scale E 4or F which is being actuated, thereby leavingthe scale which is atV rest uncoveredto permit the reading to be taken.

Manual means are provided for either stopping the entire mechanism fromoperation except the clock mechanism and the odometer 60, or else forreturning both thc scales E and F to zero position preparatory tostarting the instrument in operation. As shown, the outer ends 'of theoperating levers o and D are provided with ngers 30 adapted' to engagethe stop 31 on the end ofi Said plate is provided? `with slots 33adapted to slide back and forth on the pins'34. Pivoted in the bottom asliding plate 32.

of the casing is a stud or stem 35 which er`- ltends'through thecasing,and is provided on the outside with the operating arm or handle 36. 35is provided with a cross block having one long arm 37 and one short arm38 adapted to cooperate With the sliding plate 32. The stem v is alsoprovided with 'stinger 39 adapted to coperatie with the tooth disk W andforming a stop therefor. When it is desired to stop the operation of themechanism, the crank arm or handle 36 is raised into `the positionindicated in Fig. 3, in which case the short arm 38 of the cross Insideof the casing the stem ico block pushes the sliding plate 32 upwardlyand raises the outer ends of the operating levers o and j), therebyraising the pavvls q and r out of engagement with the tooth disks, butnot raising the outer ends ot the operating levers sufficiently far todisengage the stop pavvl 8 from the toothed disks. The linger 39 is alsocarried in horizontal position as indicated in Fig. 3, to bear againstone ot the teeth ot' the disk 1V and prevent said disk from rotating. Incase it is desired to return both scales to Zero position preparatory tostarting the mechanism in operation, the operating arm or handle 3G ismoved into the position indicated in Fig. 4 in which case the longer arm37 of the cross block pushes the sliding disk 34 a distance sutiicicntto raise the outer ends of the operatinglevers until both the operatingpavvls and the stop pavvls are disengaged from the small teeth on thedisks K and L. 30th disks will then be returned to Zero position withthe large tooth O bearing against the stop paivls 8.

The operation ot the speed indicator is as ollovvs: Let it be assumedthat both scales are at Zero position. Both operating levers o and pcannot. be lovvered at the same time so that one or the other of theoperating pavvls g and `r vvill be in operation advancing one or theother ot the toothed disks K and L and the scale connected thereto. Thecontinuous rotation of the disk R Will permit the intermittent rotationof the toothed disk lV and cams X and Y. First, one opg erat-ing lever 0or 72 is raised for 30 seconds, lifting the operating pavvl out ofengagement vvith the teeth on its corresponding disk, and then the otheroperating lever is raised for 30 seconds, While the first lever islowered into operating position. After one ot the scales has beenrotated for Pi() seconds. said scale remains stationary at the readingindicated tor approximately 29 seconds. and then during an intervalapproximating one second, said scale is being auto inatically returnedto Zero position. The same operation occurs for the other scale, and theshield I is shifted back and forth 'troni one scale to the other, alwayscovering the scale which is being actuated forward.

Fach scale E and F has 120 divisions corresponding to the number ofteeth on the tooth disks l( and L plus one, because the large tooth (V)on each disk is equal to two small teeth. The scales E and F aregraduated into halt mile divisions so that any speed may be indicatedfrom one hall mile an hour upward to the limit of the instrument. Fachsmall tooth P on a disk K or L corresponds to a speed of one half mileper hour, so that it the machine or vehicle is traveling at a rate of 30miles an hour, the operating pawl g or r vvill advance its cooperatingtooth disk K or L through the space of 60 teeth and the correspondingscale E or F connected to the disk will be moved toi-ward through G0halt mile divisions until the numeral 30 appears opposite the pointer,thus indicating that the machine has been traveling at the average rateof 30 miles an hour for the last 30 seconds. This indication of 30 milesan hour will remain opposite the opening C in the casing forapproximately 29 seconds, while the average speed for the next halfminute is being indicated on the other scale.

The following is a concrete example to illustrate the operation of thedevice. Let it be supposed that the instrument is connected to one ofthe front Wheels of an automobile, which Wheel is approximately 15 feetin circumference and Would make 350 revolutions in traveling a mile. Ifthe machine was traveling at the rate of 12 miles per hour, the wheelwould make 4200 revolutions per hour or revolutions every halt' aminute. Since there are 120 teeth on eachdisk K or L and the scales aredivided into 120 half mile divisions, it will be necessary for one diskto be actuated forward through the space of 21 of the small teeth P toindicate a speed ot 12 miles per hour on the scale. Since the road Wheelmakes 35 revolutions every halt a minute in traveling at a speed of 12miles an hour, the eccentric shaft B should be geared to the road wheelto rotate in the ratio of 2l to One of the features of this inventionresides in the tact that when the forward movement of the scale ceases,the average speed reading remains clearly exposed until such time as itbecomes necessary to return the scale to zero reading preparatory torecommencing the cycle of operations. By this means the reading ismaintained in vievv before the driver of a machine for a given shortinterval of time and enables the driver to mark the reading and rememberit, thus serving as a. constant guide for the operation of the machine,Whereas an instan tancous reading is often not observed and hence notheeded.

Obviously some features of this invention may be used Without others andthe invention may be embodied in widely varying forms.

Therefore, Without limiting the invention to the devices shown anddescribed, and without .enumerating equivalents, I claim and desire toobtain'by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a speed indicator, the combination of a pair of pointers andmembers bearing scales, actuating means connected to impart relativemovement to each scale member and its pointer through a distancecorresponding to the average speed at which a moving vehicle istraveling, and controlling means connected to alternately arrest therelative of a source of power, driving means connected to be operated-thereby at a constant rate of speed, controlling means under constantrotative stress arranged to be released atgiven intervals of time by theoperation ofv said driving means, a pairofpointers and members bearingscales, actuating means for said scale membersadapted to be connected tothe rotating part of a moving vehicle and arranged to be controlled bythe driving means, and a shield arranged to swing back and forth oversaid scale members, and connected to be actuated by the controllingmeans.

4. In a speed indicator, the combination of a main shaft adapted to beconnected to the rotating part of a moving vehicle, oper.

ating bars eccentrically journaled on` said shaft and provided Withspring pressed operating pawls, toothed disks adapted to be engaged bysaid pawls When in operating position, bell-crank levers having one endin engagement With the outer ends of the operating bars, and providedWith stop pavvls adapted to engage the toothed disks, cams bearing onthe other ends of the bell crank levers, mechanism controlling theintermittent operation of said cams to rock the bellcrank levers.members bearing scales connected to said toothed disks and pointerseoperating with said scale members.

5. In a speed indicator, the combination of a.' driving shaft underconstant stress tending to rotate it at the rate of one revolution perminute, a slotted disk carried by said driving shaft, a toothed diskunder const-ant stress tending to rotate it and controlled in it-sintermittent rotation by the slotted disk, cams connected to move Withthe. toothed disk, levers and stop paWls thereon cont-rolled by saidcams, toothed disks controlled by said stop pawls, operating barscontrolled by said levers, paWls on the operating bars for actuating thetoothed disks, means for actuating the operating bars from a rotatingpart of a moving vehicle, and pointers and members bearing scales havingrelative movement due to the movement of the toothed disks.

6. In a speed indicator, the combination said driving shaft, a tootheddisk under constant stress tending to rotaie it and adapted to beengaged by the slotted disk, cams connected to move with the tootheddisk, levers and stop pavvls thereon adapted to be rocked by said cams,toothed disks controlled by said stop pawls, ama-in shaft adapted to beconnected to the rotating part of a moving vehicle, operating barseccentrically mounted on said main shaft and controlled by thesaidlevers, spring pressed operating pawls carried by said leversadapted to engage the toot-hed disks, and pointers and members bearingscales having relative movement due to the movement of the tootheddisks.

7. In a. speed indicator, the combination of a driving partl underconstant stress tending to rotate it at a given constant rate perminute, a pair of controlling levers having stop paivls, rotaryconnecting means under constant stress controlled by said driving partfor alternately operating said controlling levers, a pair of tootheddisks adapted to be arrested by said stop pawls, a main part adapted tobe connected to the rotating part of a moving vehicle, means foroperatively connecting said main part to actuate the disks, and scalesand pointers having relative movement due to the movement of the disks.

8. In a speed indicator, the combination of a slotted disk connected torotate 'at a iven rate of speed,`a toothed disk under constant stresstending to rotate it and cooperating with said slotted disk, bamsactuated With said toot-lied disk, bell crank levers rocked by saidcams, stop paWls carried by said levers, operating bars controlled bysaid levers, actuating pa'wls carried by said bars, means for actuatingsaid bars from a rotating part of a moving vehicle, toothed disksengaged by said stopl paWls and said actuating pavvls, and memberbearing scales connected to be moved by said toothed disks.

9. In a speed indicator, the combination of a driving disk connected torotate at a given rate of speed, al toothed disk under constant stresstending to rotate it controlled by the driving disk, operating bars andpawls, toothed disks actuated by said pawls, stop parvis, meansconnected to be actuated by the movement of the driving disk forcontrolling the operating bars, means for actuating said bars, memberbearing scales connected to said toot-hed disks, and means forpreventing the indicating mechanism from operating. l

10. In a speed indicator, the combination of a pair of pointers andmembers bearing scales, actuating means connected to impart relativemovement to each scale member and its pointer alternately through adistance corresponding to the average speed at which a moving vehicle istraveling, and means for maintaining the speed reading on each scale

